Over a foot of snow could fall in the Northeast as winter storm affects millions

Just days after much of the Northeast enjoyed spring-like weather, a potent snowstorm came roaring into the region Friday, reminding residents that winter is far from over yet.

Across southern Vermont, southern New Hampshire and northwestern Massachusetts, some 12 to 18 inches of snow was forecast to blanket the region, AccuWeather said. Lesser amounts were forecast in other areas.

In all, some 18 million people in the Northeast were under some form of winter weather alert as of Friday morning, the National Weather Service said.

The Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for most of New England and eastern New York, as well as a winter weather advisory stretching from Ohio into coastal areas of southern New England and northern Maine.

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Governors across the region urged residents to stay off the roads if possible. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont also told nonessential state employees to stay home.

The Weather Service advised that "if you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency."

Snow covers the street in Rochester, N.Y., on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. Residents across the Northeast awoke to a steady snow that could bring a foot or more of accumulation to many areas, and a sloppy mix of sleet and ice to other spots.
Snow covers the street in Rochester, N.Y., on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. Residents across the Northeast awoke to a steady snow that could bring a foot or more of accumulation to many areas, and a sloppy mix of sleet and ice to other spots.

Major airports across the region reported hundreds of outgoing flight cancellations, including more than 300 at Boston’s Logan International Airport.

Police in many states reported multiple crashes on the icy, slushy roads Friday morning. Massachusetts State Police reported a jackknifed tractor-trailer in Fall River, and a tractor-trailer rollover on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Auburn.

New York City was forecast to see mainly rain: "Around New York City, warm air to the south will win the war on Friday with rain for much of the area, after sleet and freezing rain fell on Thursday night," AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

The storm had wreaked havoc on travel in portions of the central U.S. on Wednesday and Thursday as ice-glazed roads led to hundreds of crashes, including one in Kentucky that killed a toddler. Hundreds of flights were also canceled.

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Meanwhile, ski areas in New England cheered the fresh snow that came after unseasonably warm temperatures earlier in the week.

“Mother Nature is officially confused as to how to spend her time, but she seems to have a great short-term plan for now,” the website said for Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston, Vermont, on Friday.

AccuWeather said that Saturday will be quiet in the Northeast in the wake of the storm, but snow showers and localized heavier snow squalls could arrive Sunday afternoon and evening ahead of an Arctic cold front.

Bitterly cold air and gusty winds will arrive in the wake of this front on Monday for the last day of February, AccuWeather said.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winter storm warning in Northeast: Foot of snow, 18M under alert

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